Resilient wheel.



IVI. T. WESTUN.

RESIUENT WHEEL.

APPLlcMmN FILED APR.13.1916.

www@ m.

M. T. WESTON.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLlcAnoN man APR.13.191e.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WJTNESSES: f l L A r @1m/M f mja.. 7M@ 56...,1/5Mg M. WESTON.

* HESILIENT WHEEL. APPLmATmH meu APR.

zitented DQC. 31, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MILTON T. WESTOOF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

RESILIENT VJHEEL.

Application tiled April 13. 1916.

To all whom ty/ay concern:

Be it, known that l, MIL'roN T. lVns'roN, a citizen of the United States, and resident ot' New York, in the county oif New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in Resilient. lVheels, ot whiclrthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsI 1n resilient wheels for automobiles and other vehicles, wherein thev pneumatic resilient y member is located in the central part of the wheel in an enlarged inclosed hub casing, thereby being protected from the elements and from contact with the road surface.

The object ot' my invention is to provide a reliable and etiicient, substitute for the present form ot' pneumatic' tire, wherein the pneumatic member is not only removed from contact' with the road surface but wherein the said pneumatic member is also thoroughly protected from interval frict-ional wear bythe particular construction of the weight transmitting` devices. A further object is to provide means for limiting the movement of the weight transmitting devices, said limiting means also serving as a substitute tor the resilient member, in case of destruction @t the latter, and thus avoiding the necessity ot' making repairs along the road. A further important object obtained by my invention is the cushioning of the power transmitted trom the driving aXle to the outer wheel member by means of the constructlon and arrangement ot' the weight transmitting levers acting in conjunction with the resilient member. This desirable `result relieves the engine and transmission parts of much of the strains they are at present subjected to. Other objects attained are novel means ot' alinement, simplicity ot con` struction and reliability in operation.

My invention is fully described in the following specification and clearly shown in the accompanying drawings in which simi lar reference numbers refer to similar parts in all the views.

Figure 1, is a side view of a wheel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view substantially on a line A-A. ot Fig. l.

Fig. 3. is a sectional view of the enlarged hub casing showing the resilient member, the inelastic limiting band and weight transmitting devices. The section is in the Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented Dec. 3i, tl.

Serial No. 90,909.

.member contiguous to the inelastic band, is

shown. This view illustrates the action of the weight transmitting levers within their normal working range when the inner hub is depressed by the weight of the vehicle. In this view the effect of this action of the transmitting levers upon the inelastic band and upon the resilient member is also clearly shown. 4

Fig. 6, is a. view similar to Fig. 5, and illustrates the action of the weight. transmitting leve s when limited in their movement by the inelastic band. This condition obtains in case of the deflation or destruction ot the resilient member.

Fig. 7, is a plan view of a pair of swinging levers as for example the pair shown at the top of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8. illustrates a modification in the construction of the inelastic band and resilient member wherein they are shown attached to or integral with each other'.

vFig. 9, is a detailed view of one of the pins showing the method of internal lubri cation.

In carrying out my invention prefer to use the wire wheel type of construction in which the tire 1 is mounted on a rim 2 con nec-ted to the enlarged hub 3 by means of two series of Wire spokes 4 anchored in flanges 5 and 6, at the inner and outer ends respectively of said hub. The enlarged hub 3 swells radially outward between the two series of wire spokes and thus provides the necessary internal space tor the resilient member 7. In the several views l have shown the pneumatic type of resilient member as being the most desirable. It may be necessary, however, to use a solid rubber or other type of resilient member tor heavy vehicles.

Mounted in the hub 8 is a spider composed of a ring 8 on the inner side. a ring 9 on the outer side and a plurality ot equally spaced connecting bars 10 joining the two rings t and 9 together. 0n opposite sides ot each of the conneetmg bars l0 are the pin-supporting lugs ll to be referred to hereinafter.

. jnitted Ations substantially radial with respect to the The ring 8 on the inner end of this hub spider is shown flanged radially so as to engage an annular flange 12 at the inner open end of the enlarged hub 3. rlhis tianged inner opening in the hub is pretera'loly larger than the diameter ot the spider measured over order that'said spider may be readily put into position in the hub 3 or easily removed therefrom. Tap bolts 13 serve to attach the ring 8 to annular flange 12 in the inner opening in the hub 3.

rThe ring 9, at the outer end of the spider, is shown with a cylindrical outstanding ange which is adapted to tit into the opening in the outer end ot' the hub 3. The inner circumference ot this cylindrical flange of the ring 9, is threaded to receive a hub cap 14 which', when screwed in place, clamps the outer flanged end G of the hub 3 firmly between said hub c ap 11i and the ring 9. By means of this construction, which is clearly shown in Fig. It, the hub spider just described is rigidly secured to the hub 3 and acts as a part thereof.

On opposite sides ot each of the connecting bars are located pins 15 supported at their ends by the rings 8 and t? and toward their centers by one or more lugs 11 attached to or integral with the connecting bars 10.

A series of swinging levers 16 are designed to comtorin approximately to the inner periphery of the-resilient member 7 and are disposed in pairs around the inner circmnference of said resilient member. It will be observed that there is one pair tor each connecting bar l() and that they cX- tend in opposite directions therefrom. lt will be seen also that the ends otl the swinging` levers 16, adjacent to the connecting bars 10, are providedwith bearings which engage the pins 15, previously described, and consequently have a partial rotative movement about them in the plane of. the wheel. lu their positions ot' rest as shown in Fig. 3, these swinging levers 16 are normal to the radii of the wheel and therefore any pressure exerted against them troni within, as by the-connecting pieces 17, will botransto the resilient member T in direccenter ot' the wheel. Toward the outer or free end of the swinging levers 16, the pinsI 18 are Ino'unted in lugs 19 integral with the said swinging levers.

the connecting bars 10 in.

An endless, inelastic, flexible. band `L() is interposed between the inner circumference of the resilient member T, and the spider connecting bars 10, and swmging levers 16,

' in the manner clearly shown in the several views. rl`he tunctions ol. this band 2() will he `fully described later.

(ln the 'axle 21 ot' the vehicle l mount a. spider 22 which, in the design shown in the drawings, has a number of arms 23, at the ineens@ extremities of which are the pin-carrying .lugs 24 in which the pins 25 are mounted.

number otl connecting pieces 1T. one for each swinging lever 16, are provided andare ot' suitable and substantial construction. The outer ends o't these connecting pieces 17 engage pins 18 carried by. theI swinging levers 16 and the opposite ends ot these' swinging levers engage corresponding pins 25 carried by the aXle spider Any weight on the axle 21 is therefore transmitted through the spider 22, the connecting pieces 17, and swinging levers 1G, to the resilient member-7 and, as has already been seen, no matter which swinging levers 1G are atiected, the pressure on the resilient member 7 will be substantially radial with respect to the center ot the wheel.

lt will be observed that each alternate connecting piece 1T bears a certain angular relation both to the axle spider and to its corresponding swinging lever 16 while the remainin alternate connecting pieces bear an opposite and, preferably, an equal angular relation to the axle spider 22and to their corresponding swinging levers 1G. This angular arrangement ot' the connectingpieces 17 is very important as it gives a comparatively even distribution ol5 the weight to several of the swinging levers lt' simultaneously as they come successively into positions to receive the-weight during the rotation of the wheel. Furthermore it permits driving theA wheel in either direction without altering the` constrlwtion o't' the wheel.

All pins 15, 18, and 25 are similar and preferably constructed as illustrated in li` ig. t) where they are shown hollow in order to contain a lubricant of suitable consistency. The ends of these hollow pins are closed by the plugs 26. Relatively small holes 27 commul'iicatewith the interior ot the pins and permit the lubricant to work to the surface and prevent wear. 'lhese pins are all parallel to each other and to the axis o't rotation ot the wheel. l

An important feature ot my invention is they method I adopt to keep the outer wheel member, carrying the resilient. member T, in perfect alinement with the axle spider 22. By referring to Fig. 4, it'will Vbe seen thaty the axle spider 22, the connecting` pieces 17, and the swinging-levers 16, are all iliade as longas possible in the direction ot' the axis ot the wheel and in this manner relatively long hinge joints are provided which can only operate parallel to each other and to the axis ot' rotation ot the wheel. This construction, while permitting an absolutely tree radial movement of the axle spider 22 within the hub 3, positively preserves true aliuemcnt between the outer wheel member and the inner or lloating huh member in the plane ot the wheel.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen4` that the resilient member 7 is somewhat reduced in cross section at points corresponding to the location of the connecting bars 10. The most important object of this construction is to provide greater length of fabricv in the inner circumference of the resilient member than if the inner eircumference were a true circle. The eircumference measured around the swingingl levers 16 is increased as the weight on, and the torsion in, the axle 21 forces the said levers outwardly in the manner previously described. rl'his action of the swinging levers 16 would be` resisted by the unyielding fabric, of which the resilient member is composed, if provision were not made for the necessary eXtra length fof same. ln the method I have shown for meeting this contingency it is obvious that the swinging levers 16 can displace the inner circumference of the resilient member considerably before putting any circumferential strain in lthe fabric of which said resilient member is made.

The endless inelastic -band 20 previously referred to, is intended to limit the movement of the swinging levers 16 beyond their normal working range as illustrated in F ig. 5.

and thus prevent undue circumferential strainpon the fabric of the resilient member 7. lt will be clearly seen in Fig. 3 that this band 20 conforms to the inner circumference of the resilient member and, as explained in the case of the latter, the said band will be somewhat longer than if it were a true circle of the nominal inside diameter of the resilient member. It will therefore not offer any resistance to the radial action of the swinging levers 1G until they exceed their normal working movement.

Another function of this inelastic band 20 'is shown in Fig. 6 where the resilient memfunction of vthis band 2O is to take any slight surface wear due to the action of the swinging levers 16.

The operation of my invention will be clearly seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. In Fig. 3 all parts are shown, in their normal positions of rest with no weight, on the aXle spider 22. In Fig. 5 weight has been applied and the axle spider 22 is eccentric with respect to the outer hub 3. Assuming the weight to be downward the action of all of the swinging levers 16 can be readily seen in this View. lt will be particularly noted 'that any pressure exerted by the several swinging levers 16 is substantially radial and will be independent of the direction in which weight is applied to the axle 21. This is an important point in my construction and is especially noticeable in Fig. 6 where two of the swinging levers 16, in positions considerably above the horizontal diametral line of the wheel, are seen to be assuming a small share 0f the load applied tothe axle. ln Fig. the two swinging levers 16, located approxi mately on the horizontal diametral line, are transmitting a large portion of the vertical load to the resilient` member 7 in substantially radial (in this particular instance, horizontal) directions with respect to the center of the wheel. This radial translation of the vertical movement positively prevents chafing of the resilient member at any point, especially the horizontal diametral points, during` the revolution of the wheel.

Another important point in my invention is the translation of torsional strains. which are applied to the aXle spider 22 when the wheel is beingdriven, into radial pressure on the resilient member 7. It will be seen in Fig. that torsional strain a pplied to said hub spider 22 will tend to force each alternate swinging lever 1G outwardly, and draw the remaining ones inwardly. This action will take place, to a certain extent, independent of the vertical force due to the weight and an equalization of the two forces will occur automatically and can result only in -`adial pressure on the resilient member. It will also be seen that the pressure, due to the weight of the vehicle and to the torsional strain of driving, is applied to the resilient member 7 at a comparatively few points simnltaneousl y through certain of the swinging levers 16 which, on account of the construetion, receive substantially all of the weight. This distribution of pressure to the resilient member at several points instead of at one point-the road surface-as in the present pneumatic tire, permits the use of a much lower air pressure in the resilient member.

Although it is not necessary to make repairs to the resilient member when on the road on account of the function performed by the band 20 it may be necessary to replace or repair same at a convenient time. In order, therefore, to remove the resilient member it is first deflated afterA which the hub cap 14 is removed and then the tap bolts 13. The outer wheel which includes the hub 3, `is then slipped from the hub spider carrving the resilient member 7 and band 20 with it.

l have herein described the preferredmechanical embodiment of my-invention but one skilled in the art might make changes in detail and design which would accomplish the same result.

It will be observed that with the construction shown and described, the improved CII 't'ormly oppose wheel comprises in general two main elements7 the axle-engaging member and the tread or tire bearing member7 each ot these beine` bodilyv movable with respect to the other as a distinct unit. ,lt will also be observed that these two units are connected together by a link and lever construction, the pivot pins ot such connections being all disposed in parallel relation with the wheel. axis, so that while the two units aremaintained in fixed alinements in the plane. of the wheel. they are 'freely movable with respect'. to each other within this plane. ln order to resiliently hold the two units in coneentric relation with each other, and to provide 'for the transmission ot" torque in the case of driving wheel, the invention provides 'for maintaining an equal vresilient force to unithe movement ot the lever and link connections out ot normal position7 thus tending to automatically center the ltwo main niembers. The levers are arranged in pairs around the axle-engaging unit and are ttulcrumed at their adjacent ends to tixed points on the tread unit, while the links diverge from radial direction and are pivotally connected with the swinging ends o the levers and with liXed points on the axleengaging unit. This results in a tendency to radially expand or distort the circumference ot the circle embracing the levers when relative rotary motion occurs between the two units. so that the resilient member lin arresting said expansion makes possible the transmission of the torque from the axle-engaging member to the tread unit.

l therefore. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. wheel comprising in combination an axle-engaging unit. a tread unit surrounding the same conce-ntrically therewith, articulated expansible connections pivotally connecting the two units together and permitting freedom of relative motion between the two units in the plane otl the wheel. and means for maintaining in all operative positions a substantially equal resilient 'torce against all ot' said expansible. connectionls to oppose departure ot the two units t'rom concentric relation and to enablel the transmission of torque 'from yone unit to the other.

.2.' A wheel comprising in combination an axle-engaging unit. a generally circular tread unit surrounding the same. a. circular series o'l swinging levers pivoted to one of said units with their pivots and operating surfaces disposedv in substantiallyv circular l alinement, links pivotally connecting the reh the other unit to move said levers substantially radially out ot their normal circular alinement when relative motion between said units occurs.y and a. pneumatic tube cooperating with said levers to maintain an equal resilient 'force against all of said levers.

sportive levers wit aseo 3. A wheel comprising in combinatiorL an axle-engaging unit, a tread unit surrounding the `same. one of said units having an. annular chamber open .around one periphery thereof. a pneumatic tube disposed therein, a system ot levers pivoted to said ehambered unit. and contining said pneumatic tube thereim and a system oi links pivotally connecting said levers with the other unit, whereby relative motion between said units is opposed by said pneumatic tube.

-l-. ln with an outer wheel member having an enlarged hub. ot an annular resilient cushion mounted in said .enlarged hub-` an inner hub member tobe mounted on the axle of the vehicle. swinging lever devices hinged to the interior ot' the hub ot the outer wheel member in substantially circular alinement and operating against the inner periphery ot the resilient eushioinnnd izo-'acting links hinged to the inner hub member and piyotally7 connected with thetree ends of said lever,

resilient wheel (joiiprising an outer wheel member formed with an enlarged hub having an annular chamber open around its inner periphery. an annular resilient member mounted in the chaml'ierot said enlarged hub. a spider removably secured in the enlarged hub ot the, outer wheel member, and a plurality ot swinging levers pivoted transversely to said spider. said swinging levers having portions conforming substantially to the inner periphery ot' the resilient member.

o. ln a resilient wheel the combination of an outer wheel member having an enlarged hub. a spider removably secured in the hub ot said outer wheel member: a resilient member mounted in the annular spaceibetween said spider and the walls of the hub of the outer wheel member. and a plurality of oppositely disposed swinging levers pivoted to the. -spider. said levers having portions conforming substantially Ito the inner periphery ot theI resilient member and bearing against same in a substantially radial direction with respect to the center ot the Wheel.

T. lin a wheel the combination of an outer ,nvheel member having`an annular chaniber open throughout its entire inner periphery, resilient meansl mounted in said annnlar chamber. a Ytrame removably mounted on said outer wheel member and provided with cross harsl extending across the opening o said chamber to maintain said resilient means in fixed relation to the outer Wheel member while leaving the major portion of its inner periphery exposed, and lever devices pivotally mounted .irs

on said cross and adapted to operate agrinst the Aexposed inner periphery ot said resilient means Letween said cross bars.

3. ln a resilient wheel the combination with an outer wheel membri adapted to receive a resilient member, ot an annular resilia resilient wheel the combination resese Vt). A Wheel comprising in combination an axle-engaging unit. a generally circularl tread unit surroundingT the same and concen tric therewith, a circular series of levers pivoted to one of said units. `inks pivotally connecting said levers with the other of said units and an annular cushion encircling said levers in the unit t-o which they are pivoted, for restraining departure of the tvvo units from concentric relation.

l0. A Wheel comprising in combination an :Nile-engagingr unit. a tread unit surrounding the same and concentric therewith. a generally circular series of levers arranged in .tq restrain departure of the' two units from concentric relation. n

ll. A wheel comprising in combination, an axle-engaging unit, a generally circular tread unit surrounding the same, a series oi" toggle operated levers `iointed to one of said units, the toggles being7 pivotally connected with the other oic said units, and an annular cushion encirclingsaid levers and conned between the faces of said levers and the unit to which they are iointed.

l2. ln a` resilient Wheel an outer wheel member having an annularly enlarged hub. and an inner hub member7 in combination with a. pneumatic tube mounted in the enlarged hub ot the outer Wheel member and co-actingg lever means tulcruimd to the outer Wheel member substantiallv at the inner periphcrv olE thc pneun'iati(` tube for the radial translation. ot combined load and torsional strains 'from the inner hub member to 'the said resilient:y member.

i3. Wheel comprising in combination. inner and outer members. articulated connections pern'iittinotree relative movementl between them. pneumatic resilient means mounted in one ot said mei'nl'iers 'For vieldinglv omiosinn the motion ot said articulated connections out ot their nornial positions. and means interposed between said 'connections and said pneumatic resilient means to prevent. friction between them.

ll. ln a resilient ivheel an outer wheel member havine' an enlare'ed hub. and an inner hub member mounted von the axle ot' the vehicle. iirtfoinbinatimi vvith a pneumatic resilient member mounted in the hub ot' the outer wheel member. radiallv actine' lever devices having hinszed conmctionsl to the inner hub member and to the hub ot' the outer vvheel member said lever devices being adapted to compress the pneumatic resilient member substantially radially and an endless. inelastic. flexible band surroumline the lever devices and co-actine' with the pneumatic resilient member to limit the radial movement of said lever devices toward said pneumatic resilientI member beyond their normal ivorkine' range.

15. In a resilient Wheel an outer wheel member havine an cnlareed hub in which a pneumatic resilient member is mounted. and an inner hub member in combination with a plurality ot o-actinr lever devices tulcrumed to the outer Wheel member substantially at the inner surface ot' said resilient'.- member. means nivotallv connect-ing said devices to the hub member and an inelastic flexible band surroundingr said lever devices. said inelastic flexible band beine' adapted to permit limited radial movement of said lever devices afrainst the pressure of said resilient member. but to sustain the iveisrht nornrally carried by the pneumatic resilient member in the event ol the latter becoming deflated.

16 ln a resilient wheel an outer wheel niemberihaving an enlarged hub in which a pneumatic resilient member is located. in combination with a plurality of connecting bars mounted in the hub o'f the outer vvheel member substantiallv at the inner surface or" said resilient member and parallel to the Wheel axis. an axle spider. ay plurality of swineine levers'hinrfed to said connecting bars onv opposite sides thereof and conforminfr substantially to the inner periphery of the pneumatic resilient member. means connecting the levers to the Said spider and an inelastic band ,surrounding the connecting bars and the swingine levers hinged thereon. said inelastic band beine' adapted to transter the vveioht from the swinging levers to the connect-inlibars carried bv the outer wheel member. in the event of the dellation of the pneumatic resilient member.

1l. A Wheel comprising in combination, an outer vvheel member. an annular pneumatic tube concentrically mounted therein, and bavine' indcntations on its innerperiphery to render intermediate portions of its inner periphery displaceable radially outward. a series of load-sustaining levers tulcrumed in said wheel member adjacent said indcntations and operatine; against the radially displaceable intermrdiate portions of the said inner periphery of the pneumatic tube, and an axle-engaging member suitably connected with seid levers te transfer the loud thereto.

1S. 4in n resilientI wheel, the combination of :in annular pneunuitie resilientI tube, inwingn `plurality of indentatione in its inner peripher)v und Marl-supporting means operutinsr radiallyv outward against the inner periphery7 thereof between seid indenteiionsu 19. in a resilient wheel et' the character described, the eombinution 0i ai pneumatic tube haring n series et' indentetiens on its inner periphery, cross bars disposed in Suid indentetiene` e llt-,xible inelastic protecting bruid conforming; with andheld against the inner periphery of said tube by Seid cross bars, :ind loud-euetaining levers tulerumed te the cross bers und disposed to Operate against the inner periphery ef Suid bund be tween the indentations.

ieeeeee 20. n. a resilient Wheel, an outer wheel member haring an enlerkred hub provided with en annular chamber Open around its inner vperiphery;lin combination with an annular, resilient member mounted in the chamber o Said enlarged hub; an axle Spider separably secured in the enlarged hub of the outer Wheel member: a plurality,1 et swinging levers conforming` substantially to the inner perinherv et the resilientl member and eeperating with the lutter; and conneetions between Said levers` and the r1-Xiespider for transmitting pressure from the hitter t0 the resilient member.

Signed et New York, in the eeunty of New York :ind State of New York this 11th dey of April, A. 1916.

. MLTQN T. VESTON, litnesses A. COWAN, McKenzie. 

